While I wait for the police to arrive, I hurriedly search through Alice's computer for anything about Luxen. I'm pretty sure that's where the company's money has gone and so it's essential that I find the information about it as soon as possible.I hear pounding footsteps and when I look up I see Noah coming towards me."What the hell is going on, Eden?" he demands."The police are on their way," I tell him, my attention returning to the computer. "Where's Lewis?""With Martin. What do you mean the police are coming?""I heard James… He's leaving. He's running away. I need to stop him."It's clear from the look on his face that he's not really following."James killed my parents.""I know.""You do?""Lewis…""Oh.""I called the police. He's going to leave the country.""When?""Alice booked him a flight in four hours' time.""So, we have time… What are you doing now?" he asks, his hand on my forearm."I need to find… There's an account – Luxen. I need to…""That's whe
Eden's POV:Opening my eyes, I stretch my arms over my head. A quick glance at the alarm clock tells me it's later than it should be. I should have gotten up hours ago.I don't have time to waste.In a daze, I change my clothes and give myself a quick wash in the bathroom attached to my bedroom. I need to know what the hell is going on. Hurrying out of my bedroom, I'm surprised to find Noah in my little kitchen. He's bare foot and making breakfast."Morning," he says with a wide smile.I really love the sight of him here like this. Its not the first time I've seen him in my home in the morning but it feels special somehow. Every morning with him feels special.He tells me to sit down at the table and I only waver for a second as I wonder where my phone is. He must see my hesitation because he hands me my phone, unplugging it from the charger that is on the counter."Your battery was low," he tells me gently, as he drops a kiss to my head and places a cup of tea on the table in f
Eden's POV:I'm pretty sure grandma shouldn't be having caffeine so I forgo the coffee and just wander around instead. I tell myself that I'll give them ten minutes – exactly ten minutes – and then I'll head back.I hope Noah knows what he's getting himself into. Grandma is sneaky and she knows exactly how to dig for information. She'll have a wedding date, the number of kids he wants and the names and numbers of his immediate family members all within that ten minutes I'm giving them.Any longer and she'll wrangle every secret he's ever kept out of him.I'm not sure where to go so I head towards the exit, thinking that I'll get a little air. My mind immediately returns to the events of the previous day. It had taken ages to explain everything to the police. They'd have what felt like hundreds of questions.They have more, of course. They want witness statements from all of us. I guess, that's what I'll be doing tomorrow in between trying to fix the mess that James and Lewis have
Noah's POV:Mrs Clancy is happily talking away about Eden. Her voice is filled with evident pride. I'm surprised that Eden's been gone this long. It's been almost half an hour and I had gotten the distinct impression that she would rush back."I wonder what's taking Eden so long," Mrs Clancy's words echo my own thoughts.Getting to my feet, I reply, "I should go find her."Mrs Clancy smiles at me as I make my way out of the room in search of her granddaughter. Just outside, I'm glance around. I'm not really sure where to look for Eden. Coffee was just Mrs Clancy's excuse to get Eden out of the room. All so she could ambush me with questions. Questions I would have answered even if Eden had been in the room.The nurses are sitting at their desk, chatting away happily and there are several patients wandering about, but there's no sign of Eden. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call her. It's not like I can search the entire hospital, although I will if I have to. Even if it does
Noah's POV:When I manage to get through the crowd of people, I find Eden sitting at the centre. She's in a metal chair with a hot drink in her hand and she's shaking slightly. My eyes linger on her momentarily before they take in the person talking to her, or more precisely the clothes they are wearing.Eden is speaking to a police officer.What the hell happened? I move to her side quickly, before crouching down to check on her."Eden, are you okay?" I ask.She gives me a small smile and offers me a shaky hand. I take it, feeling the cold that is emanating from her skin."I'm alright," she answers but I struggle to believe her."What happened?" I demand."James…"That's all she needs to say for me to see red. "Where is he?""The police have him now," she tells me, her voice hollow like she's overwrought with emotion."Do you need to stay here?" I want to take her away from all the prying eyes. I know Eden won't be enjoying the attention she's currently getting."I don't
"Let's break up."Did he really just say that? It's hard to believe that he could actually be that much of a jerk. Then again, maybe it's not that surprising. This always happens.Just when I begin to think he's different. Just when I begin to trust.He proves me wrong.What I don't understand is why it always has to be in a public place. If you're going to dump a person you should at least have the decency to do it privately. But no. They always seem to pick the best restaurant in the most affluent part of the city, the most expensive dish and the priciest wine. And only when they've finished their desert, do they tell me that it's over. That they're done. That we're through.Which would be fine, if it wasn't for the fact they always leave me with the bill. Every time. It's like they're trying to get their money's worth or something."Okay. Let's do that," I say with a surprising amount of tenacity. I have no intentions of letting him know that I'm hurt; my shoulders tense, my breath
My hand on the doorknob, I rally my nerves. Chances are my grandma has already heard all about it from her assistant, Martin. There are no secrets in my family. I shouldn't have called Martin but I don't know anyone else who would resolve everything as quickly as he will, and expedience trumps privacy.I can already imagine what my grandma will have to say. She's a meddlesome one, my grandma. Not that I'd have her any other way. She'll have about a million meaningless platitudes, meant to ease my heartbreak on the tip of her tongue. I've heard them all before though and I'm not sure I want to hear them again. It's embarrassing. Only a few days ago I was telling her how great he was and now I've got to tell her that I was wrong. Again."He's not even a person," she barks out as soon as I enter the house.She's clearly been waiting for me, pacing angrily. She's so tiny, no more than five foot and yet you shouldn't let her size fool you. My granny is terrifying."Then what is he? A dog?"
"A bet? Are you serious?""Perfectly.""Go on then. What is it?"My grandma isn't one to make bets. She says there's no fun to be had when the odds always fall in your favour."Give it all up," she says completely losing me.Bewildered, I ask, "give up what?""The money. All of it.""Why?""If it's not there, you won't be second guessing yourself, paranoid that everyone is out for what they can get.""You're joking? Surely.""No. Not at all. What better way to vet someone than to actually experience how they will treat you without the wealth and the connections that come with it.""But…"It's not like I haven't considered it before but I always thought it was just a pipe dream. One where I go away somewhere, someplace where no one knows anything about me. But it's not real. You can't just pretend to be something you're not.I can't go around pretending to be poor when I have billions sitting in the bank.I think Grandma might have lost her marbles. She can't possible be serious but she